Computer Science involves much more than just programming and using computers. Computer scientists understand how computers work and are able to look ahead and plan the next generation of computer systems. In a world like the present, where computer technology is moving on very fast, a degree in computer science is the best way to future-proof your career in computing!
Our Computer Science programme at Massey will help you learn practical programming skills in C/C++, Java and languages and other products based on them. More useful in the long term however you will learn what to expect of the next generation of computer languages. You'll learn how object-oriented programming systems work and make you a more productive programmer. You will also learn how to make judgements about programming products. You'll learn about how to organise your ideas and designs into workable programs and how to code up algorithms and data structures to help you solve all sorts of real world application problems.
You will probably also have a lot of fun understanding and playing with algorithms - "recipes" for solving problems with computers. As a Computer Scientist you will pick up a huge armoury of algorithms and techniques soundly based in mathematics, than can help you tackle all sorts of problems in software.
You can choose to study exciting up to date topics like distributed and parallel computing - you might even end up doing project work on Massey's state of the art cluster supercomputer.
You will learn how the Internet and the Web really work and what extensions are planned for them. As well as being able to pick up part time employment locally on the basis of the skills you will accumulate just in first year, you will be truly prepared for the Web developments that will emerge over the next few years.
You've seen the visions for artificial intelligence and smart robots in the movies - if you are interested in making the vision real you can learn how to go about programming present and future smart systems in our artificial intelligence paper.
Some of the most visually stunning outcomes from Computer Science of recent year have been in the graphics used in modern computer games and in the movies. We can teach you how these special effects are created and show you how to design your own 3D rendering system on a desktop computer.
You can also expect to pick up a lot of lore and practical skills about current and future computers from our international academic staff in Computer Science at Albany. Computer Science as a discipline and a body of knowledge and skills is fairly standardised internationally and so it is a safe option if you plan to work in the USA or UK or other overseas countries as well as in New Zealand. Some of our academic staff helped a group of former students set up a software company which now employs over a dozen programmers in the UK.
Computer Science as a discipline has created recent off-shoots such as: information systems; computer engineering and software engineering - but Computer Science itself is the central major to help hedge your options. A major in computer science can prepare you for many career routes as you decide to specialise later.
Some career routes for Computer Science Graduates include:
Recent fluctuations in the job market might have put you off a career in IT. Recent events only emphasise the value of a proper degree in Computer Science rather than a short-term vocational qualification in IT. Shake-outs in industry have led to more jobs for Computer Scientists who have more flexible skills at the expense of those who only learned one vendor's product.
Computer Science can form a really useful major to safe-guard your career options. It combines well with minors in Information Systems or Engineering or Mathematics.
Be prepared for the future and have fun too, with Computer Science at Massey, Albany!